Friday, 23 December 2016

This may not be the most Christmassy of posts, but I'm back with another bra review courtesy of Debenhams, and I have to say, I think this one might be the best yet! As always, my UK readers will have the opportunity to win the bra in a giveaway at the end of this post. If that's not a great start to the new year, I don't know what is!

As most of you probably know by now, I'm working with Debenhams on their #knowyoursize campaign, which aims to spread the word about the importance of going for regular bra fittings. It's amazing what a huge impact the right size bra can have on your figure, and as a result, on your confidence. A staggering 8 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong size bra, so if you haven't been measured for a while, I highly recommend it! If you're based in the UK, you can't go far wrong by popping into your local Debenhams and heading straight to their lingerie department. The service is free and their fitters are well trained and friendly. I personally had a great experience at their flagship store on Oxford Street, which you can read about here if you like.

So, onto the latest bra they've sent me for review - the Wonderbra Ultimate Deep Plunge Multiway Bra.* Well known for providing a fantastic "boost" to your assets, I've always found Wonderbra to produce attractive underwear and this is definitely no exception to the rule. Not only is this bra incredibly sleek looking, with its smooth lines and minimal satin trim, it's also pure genius. Completely seamless and cut breathtakingly low at the back as well as the front, this is the bra your plunging dresses and wrap around blouses have been crying out for.

Debenhams says:

"Unique patented technology offers unrivalled
support and the famous Wonderbra cleavage. A must-have bra for deep and
plunging necklines. Experience an endless irresistible cleavage and the
sexiest
effect you have ever had.”

As if that
wasn't enough, the multiway straps allow you to wear this as a regular
bra, strapless or crossed over at the back. Basically, no matter
how challenging that new party dress you've bought, this bra is equal to
it.

I've worn this out on a couple of occasions now and it feels comfortable, but reassuringly firm. It features
boning in the centre and at the sides, so although the band sits quite
low, the cups mold themselves to your cleavage and hold you in place. This is definitely the most useful addition to my collection for a while and I know it's going to come in handy for a long time to come.

Fancy winning one? Here's what you need to know!

This giveaway is UK only

The prize is for the Wonderbra Ultimate Deep Plunge Multiway Bra only

The bra is available in sizes 32-36A, 32-38 B-D, 30-38DD-F and is worth £35 - the winner will have a choice of black or nude, but, as always, the prize is subject to availability

The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and non-negotiable. No cash alternative is available

Debenhams Retail PLC will not be liable for any prizes which are
lost, delayed or damaged in the post for reasons beyond their control

Monday, 12 December 2016

Today I have one last Christmas gift guide for you, just in case any of you still have shopping to do. (I still have and I'm trying not to panic!) I've decided to dedicate this one to homeware. Some of you might remember that I moved house this year, so I have decorating on the brain! I've picked a real mixture of things from some of my favourite homeware stores, so hopefully there's something here that takes your fancy, whether you're still shopping for presents or maybe looking to treat yourself.

Thursday, 8 December 2016

A couple of weeks ago, I published my Beauty Lovers' Christmas Gift Guide. Since I think most girls aged 15 to 150 would find something they like there, I've decided to dedicate this next one to all the gorgeous men in our lives. After all, men are notoriously harder to shop for, right? I've put a mixed bag together here, so hopefully there's some nice ideas that would work for anyone's partner/dad/brother etc. There's also a mix of price points and brands, although I do feel I should apologise for the amount of Hugo Boss stuff I've included - it's a favourite of my husband's, and, apparently, of mine!

1. Howick Jumper - I love buying knitwear for Mike at Christmas, as it's something he doesn't often buy for himself. This style is so classic I think it would suit most guys, and it's available in grey as well if you're not crazy about the blue. A "goes with everything" winner.

2. Sony Headphones - If he commutes to work and hates it, these could help. They're noise cancelling, wireless and have an impressive battery life. I think they're quite stylish too, and reasonably priced compared to some other brands.

3. Clinique For Men Gift Set - This set has a face scrub, soothing aloe shave gel, a face wash and a moisturiser with SPF, all wrapped up in this smart toilet bag. Very handy for travelling.

4. Skate Hut New Era beanie hat - You can't go wrong with a beanie hat. Classic, warm and cosy and definitely a necessity throughout the winter months! I really like the colour of this one, and the flecked detail.

8. Hugo Boss Gloves - Real leather gloves always make a nice little luxurious gift at Christmas time. These are wool lined and I like the cuff detail - perfect for keeping his wrists warm.

9. Professor Puzzle Tangram - No, I didn't know what a tangram was either. Apparently it's a brain teaser, where you take all these wooden shapes out of a frame and then attempt to fit them all back in again. I think puzzles make a nice change as a gift, and they can come in handy on Christmas Day when people get bored!

10. Hugo Boss Watch - A slightly swankier gift, yet this is still reasonably priced considering how nice it is. I really love the simplicity of this style and think a lot of guys would love it.

11. Hugo Boss Holdall - This is expensive, but would last a lifetime. My husband has something similar to this and loves using it for weekends away. (I, on the other hand, need a full size suitcase and a massive tote bag.)

Monday, 5 December 2016

One of my favourite things about Christmas is the parties leading up to it. I love the glitz and glamour of a smart venue, getting together with friends for a natter and a giggle over drinks and nibbles, and of course, the excuse to get glammed up! I've always loved the ritual of getting ready for a night out - to be honest, for me it's as much fun as the event itself. In my ideal world, that ritual involves a bubble bath and a glass of champagne, followed by hours wrapped in a silk kimono while I apply scented body cream, do my nails... you get the picture.

In reality, there might be time for a quick shower before I throw my dress on and go straight into the hair and makeup. Everything else needs to be done the night before, or else it probably isn't happening!

I was really excited when Boohoo invited me to their Christmas party at the W Hotel in Leicester Square this year. It sounded like a fantastic venue, I'd get to say hi to a few bloggers I'd met before, and best of all, plus ones were allowed, so I was able to bring my sister with me. Boohoo also very kindly offered to gift me a dress for the occasion. What more could any girl want?

Preparation began a week or so before with my favourite tanning routine. The dress I was going to wear was quite demure, but there was still going to be a bit of flesh on show, so I wanted a bit of a glow. Often, instead of a regular fake tan, I'll use Dove Summer Revived for a few days leading up to an event. It's much less hassle to apply and gives a similar effect if you let the colour build up over a few applications.

Next, nails. I always find that manicures take me the longest time to do, and there's nothing worse than rushing it and going out with a smudged nail (first world problems!) Often, I'll give myself a mani pedi the night before an event, so I have time to do it properly. This time, I went for the shade I'm Not Really A Waitress by OPI - a gorgeous ruby red with a pearlescent finish that's just perfect for this time of year.

As my dress was black, I decided to go for a red lip, and in fact the makeup I ended up wearing for the occasion was very similar to the look I posted here. The biggest difference was that I used Mary Lou Manizer by theBalm as a highlight instead of Mac Soft and Gentle, as it packs a bit more of a punch. I didn't do anything different with my hair - just curled it like I always do and applied half a can of hairspray to protect it from any weather related mishaps on the journey there.

With my dress being quite simple and understated, I allowed myself a little bit of sparkle when it came to accessories. The gold clutch bag and ring are years old, but I did treat myself to some new shoes from Topshop. How gorgeous are these? The shape of them is just perfect, and I'm completely in love with the beautiful embroidery and ballerina style ribbon ties. I honestly think the detail on these makes them look so much more expensive than they really are, and thanks to the block heel I can actually walk in them too! They're also available in plain black velvet and a sort of mermaid-esque shimmer finish. The embroidered ones are definitely my favourites, but given how amazing the shape is I'm seriously tempted to buy the plain black as well.

Of course, in the middle of getting ready, you need to take a quick break to check social media. It's compulsory.

And when you're finally ready, you need to take a blurry as hell mirror selfie. Because otherwise, you're missing the point.

Haven't Boohoo done an amazing job with this dress? It's so pretty and easy to wear. I felt like a princess in it, but also super comfortable. I actually don't think the pictures on the website do it justice. Because Boohoo clothes in general are really affordable, it does leave you wondering about the quality, but I was pleasantly surprised when I received this. The dress feels weighty and soft to the touch, and I love the sheer striped overlay on the skirt. At just £25 I think it's a brilliant buy, and I'm tempted to snap it up in another colour, possibly the white.

The party itself was so much fun. Held in the glamorous and very cool nightclub on the first floor of the W hotel, the atmosphere was buzzing. There was champagne aplenty, and all sorts of delicious food to snap up as it whizzed by on trays, including adorable mini cones of fish and chips. There was a photobooth, fabulous glittering face paint, great music and more. The following set of photos was taken by Boohoo, so thanks to them for allowing me to share them here, not to mention inviting me to such a great party!

I didn't steal the balloons. Honestly.

When the night was finally over, I was so happy I'd invested in this Zara Faux Fur (featured in my Coat Wishlist) to cosy up in on the way home. Not only did it look great over the dress, it worked equally well over jeans and a jumper the following day. This is yet another piece that looks and feels so much more expensive than its price tag would suggest, coming in at well under £100.

Have you got any Christmas parties planned in the coming weeks? And if so, what are you going to wear?

Friday, 2 December 2016

Taking the seasons into account when it comes to perfume is something of a new thing for me. I've always had a fondness for floral fragrances, and in the past I've tended to wear my favourite scents all year round. Lately, though, I've been branching out and trying different things, and I've noticed myself reaching for the perfumes in my collection that have more warmth and depth to them now that the weather is colder. I thought I would share those with you, as well as mention a couple of others I don't happen to own right now but think are perfect for this time of year.

Before I owned this fragrance, I
lusted after it for the longest time, gazing at it longingly every
time I popped into Boots and
dropping countless hints to my husband/mum/sister/whoever happened to be
with me at the time about upcoming birthdays, etc. I wound up being
given both the original and the eau de toilette last Christmas, and then
for good measure received the Nuit Blanche version at a press day a few
months later. All three are gorgeous, but if I had to single one out as
the most "wintry", I'd go for the original. A heady mix of black
coffee, white florals and vanilla, it's a strong, sexy and highly
addictive fragrance.

Christmas without Michael Buble is like the tree without fairy lights. Well, maybe not, but this gorgeous fragrance definitely lends itself beautifully to the winter months. With sparkling red fruit top notes and a warm base of amber and vanilla praline, this is definitely going to be my go-to scent for Christmas parties this year. I wrote a detailed review of it here in case you'd like to know more.

Ah, Jo Malone - the queen of fragrance. I love everything she does. Mimosa and Cardamom surprised me - I thought it was going to be strong and spicy, but instead it's quite delicate. This is definitely an all year rounder - light and fresh enough to wear through the summer, but with a beautiful creamy depth that seems to work perfectly in the colder months as well. While we're on the subject of Jo Malone, there's another two perfumes from the brand that I don't currently own but think are perfect for winter. One is Amber and Lavender - musky, opulent and exotic - and the other is Pomegranate Noir, which is possibly the most sophisticated sweet fragrance I have ever come across, laced with the faintest hint of spice.

The strongest and most distinctive perfume I own, winter is a great time for this to come into its own. Again, I reviewed it here if you're interested in checking it out in more detail, but essentially this is an earthy, spicy combination of bergamot, amber, vetiver and tonka bean. If you like your perfumes to be a talking point and/or totally unique, this is one for you.

Do you change up your perfumes according to the seasons? And which ones are you loving right now?